Woodstock 50 organizer denies artists have backed out

Michael Lang has fired back at reports that artists have pulled out of his Woodstock 50 festival.

The Japanese company financing the show, Dentsu, has terminated its involvement. And Billboard reported yesterday (Wednesday) that performer contracts were through Dentsu, and thus were void.

Lang tellsBillboard, "My grip [on the festival] is right here and it’s fine." And his lawyer, Marc Kasowitz, who served as personal attorney for President Trump and briefly represented him in the Russia probe led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, says, "A story just ran in Billboard saying that the Woodstock 50 artists can terminate their contracts because the agreements were with Dentsu and the festival is canceled. Both those statements are untrue. The artists’ agreements are with Woodstock 50 LLC, and the festival has not been canceled and preparations are continuing."

Meanwhile, Billboard quotes an agent representing many of the acts who says, "First, no one from Lang's office or Woodstock 50 has called us to let us know what is going on. Second, our contract was with Amplifi Live, not with Woodstock 50."

Original plans called for Woodstock 50 to be held on August 16th, 17th and 18th at Watkins Glen International Speedway in Watkins Glen, New York.

Among those scheduled to perform are Robert Plant, David Crosby, Imagine Dragons, Greta Van Fleet, Santana, The Killers, John Fogerty, Dead and Company, Miley Cyrus, Jay-Z, Chance the Rapper and many others.